Three injured on Delta flight after passenger assaults flight attendant

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Updated: 4:37 AM CDT Jul 7, 2017

Three injured on Delta flight after passenger assaults flight attendant

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Updated: 4:37 AM CDT Jul 7, 2017

Three injured on Delta flight after passenger assaults flight attendant

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Updated: 4:37 AM CDT Jul 7, 2017

A Delta Air Lines flight turned back soon after takeoff from Seattle to Beijing on Thursday night after a security incident in the first class cabin.

Initial information indicated an unruly passenger attempted to enter the jet's cockpit, according to two people briefed on the incident.

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But Port of Seattle Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said the plane turned back after a passenger attacked a flight attendant in the first class cabin. He said the incident took place in the front part of the twin-aisle aircraft, near the first class cabin.

Several passengers stepped in to subdue the alleged attacker, Cooper said.

Three people were injured in the incident aboard Delta flight 129, including one passenger and one flight attendant, according to Cooper. The unruly passenger was injured, but he declined medical care

The flight turned back as it was flying over the western coast of Canada.

Safe return

The twin-aisle Boeing 767 returned safely to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport around 7:40 p.m. local time under a Department of Defense escort, according to the two people briefed on the incident.

A Delta spokeswoman said the flight was not met by a Department of Defense air escort as it returned to Seattle. CNN has reached out to the North American Aerospace Defense Command to get clarification on the discrepancy.

In a statement to CNN, the airline said a passenger was restrained and removed from the flight because of a "security incident" onboard.

Law enforcement officers took the passenger into custody after the flight returned to the gate, Delta said. The Atlanta-based carrier said the flight would re-depart for Beijing again Thursday about 11 p.m. local time.